Box seal cutter



Nov. 11,1941. I J. HJORT 00 BOX SEAL CUTTER Filed Jan. 25, 11 959 2'sheets-sheep 1 I Bnvenior K I e attorfleg' Nov. 11,1941 v J HJORT 2, BOXSEAL CUTTER Filed Jan. 23, 1939 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 dnomeg slidably fittedover the Patented Nov. 11 1941 umrso STATES PATENT "OFFICE ApplicationJanuary 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,265

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a box seal cutter, and more particularly to acutting device which will serve to cut the paper seal that holdsatelescoping cover on a box. 7

Such materials as snuff are ordinarily packaged in a pasteboard boxhaving a metal cover box .and sealed in place paper pasted around the Inorder to remove the cover, it is necessary to cut the paper band nearthe edge of the cover and thus free the cover from the body of the box.This usually requires the use of a knife or other sharp edged tool, andin the absence of such a cutting tool, the user finds it difficult toopen the box. It is, therefore, desirable that the user of snuff have adevice readily available for opening the box and that in stores whereboxes of snulf are sold provision be made for the same purpose.

It is accordingly the primary object of my invention to provide areadily transported box ope ing device of this type which will serveefiiciently for cutting the paper band or seal on a box and which is soconstructed and arranged that the user cannot be'injured by contact withthe cutting tool.

A further object is to provide a box opening device which is mountedpermanently on a substantially stationary support and so is availablefor cutting the box sea1.

A further object is to provide such devices which are simple inconstruction and readily and economically manufactured. Further objectswill be apparent in the following disclosure.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a cup shaped device having acutting tool so arranged thereon that it will be normally concealed fromcontact with the user of the device but may be pressed into positionagainst the box seal to be cut, and the box and cutting device rotatedrelative to each other to accomplish the desired purpose,

Various embodiments of this invention are shown in the drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one simple form of demm;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partly in section, looking in the direction ofthe arrow 2 on Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is another end view taken at right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view with a box of snuif assembled in position forcutting the same;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of the cutter on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4,the box being shown in elevation;

by means of a band of periphery of the box.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the box with the cover removed;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section showing a scraping device for removingthe paper label;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9' is a modified form showing the box of Fig. I mounted permanentlyon a stand;

Fig. 10 is a further modification showing the cutting tool pivotallymounted on a stand;

Fig. 11 is a topplan view, partly in section, showing the operation ofthe device of Fig. 10;

Fig, 12 is a further modification showing the cutting tool mounted on aswinging arm; and

Fig. l3 is an end elevation of the device looking in the direction ofthe arrow I3 of Fig. 12.

Referring first to Fig. 6, a box to be opened may comprise a cylindricalcontainer I0, made of paper, metal, a synthetic resinoid or othersuitable material and a cover I I made also of suitable material. A bandor label I2 of paper or other material that may be readily cut is pastedaround the box andcover when in their assembled positions so as to sealthe cover and hold it in place.

One simple form of device suitable for cutting the paper band or seal I2of a snuff box is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, which comprises a cupshaped body having a 'rim or peripheral wall I5 and a reinforcing planewall I6 which may be continuous or cut away, as shown in the drawings,in order to provide a lighter and more economical object. These partsmay be made of a molded resinoid, wood, metal or other suitablematerials. The cutting tool comprises a sharpened knife edge I8 which ismounted on the spring arm 20 suitably secured to the peripheral wall I5at a remote point as by means of the rivets 22 or any other fasteningdevice. The peripheral wall I5 is provided with a slot 24 arrangedbeneath the cutting tool I8 and of such size and location that thecutting tool may be pressed through the slot into contact with a box ofsnuff or other article to be cut. The cutting tool I8 is long enough sothat it may be projected through the inner periphery of the wall I5 intocontact with the paper seal so as to cut the same. The spring arm 20 isso arranged relative to the tool that the sharp edge is normallyconcealed within the wall I5, as shown particularly in Fig. 1, so thatthe user of the device cannot readily contact with that sharp edge andthus be injured thereby.

The use of the device is illustrated particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.The box of snuff is inserted into the cup of the cutter, with its coverII located within the annular wall I5 and against the plane wall IS. Theparts are of such dimensions that when the snuff box is pushed fullyinto place, the cutting tool l8 will be positioned just beyond the edgeof the cover H. The operator will then thrust down on the spring arm 20and thus force the cutter [8 through the paper 12. Rotation of thecutter and the box relative to each other will serve to run the cuttingtool around the entire periphery of the seal and thus cut the same intotwo parts and permit removal of the box cover, as indicated in Fig. 6.

A modification is shown in Figs. '7 and 8 in which the cutting tool isarranged to cut the seal by scraping 01f the paper, but this scraper isto be considered as a cutting tool falling within the scope of theclaims. This cutter comprises the same spring arm 20, mounted as shownin Fig. 1, which has its free end turned down to form the scraping tool26. By pressing the scraper 25 through the slot 24 of the peripheralwall l5, this scraper may be forced against the paper l2, as shown inFig. 8, and caused to tear or to scrape the seal from the cover H andthus free the cover from the box I0.

Either of the cutting devices shown in Figs. 1 and 7 may be mounted on astand. As shown in Fig. 9, the walls l and I6, corresponding withsimilar parts in Figs. 1 and '7, are made integral with a standcomprising vertical walls 2'! secured at their lower ends to a flat base28. This device may be stood on the counter in a store, so that when abox of snufi or other suitable packaged material is sold, the box may beOpened for the customer.

A further modification is shown in Figs. and 11, in which a cup shapedcutter device of the type shown in Fig. 1 may be secured upon a stand bymeans of an arm 30 which is integral with the rim I5 and back plate Hi.This arm is pivotally connected through a pin 32 with a further arm 34,which is integral with the stand 29. Also integral with the stand 29 isa cup shaped body comprising a rear wall 36 and a peripheral wall 38 ofsuch size and location that a snuff box may be put into this stationarycup and the swinging cup formed by the parts l5 and I6 will fitthereover. As indicated in Fig. 11, the parts are also constructed andarranged that the swinging cutter wall [6 may be located at the correctdistance from the rear fixed wall 36 when a snuff box is put intoposition therebetween, so that the two walls will be parallel and thecutter 18 will be operated properly.

In order to rotate the snuff box, I provide a device comprising apivotally mounted plate 40 having sharp pins or prongs 42 thereonadapted to punch through the bottom wall of the snuff box, which isordinarily made of pasteboard. The plate 40 is mounted on a spindle 46passing through a bearing hole 48 in the wall 36, and the parts areturned by means of a hand wheel 50 having a sleeve 52 slidably fittingover the pivot pin 46 and secured suitably thereto as by means of a setscrew 54. It will now be seen that when the snuff box, indicated indotted outlines in Fig. 10, is inserted in the stationary cup with itsbottom wall against the plate 40 and with the pins 42 punchedtherethrough, then upon closing the cutting cup I5-i6 into place, itwill be possible by means of the handle 50 to rotate the snuii box andto press the cutting tool l8 into contact with the seal l2 and cut thesame properly.

A further modification is shown in Figs. 12 and 13, which comprises anupright stand .60 having a suitable base plate as shown in Fig. 9. Arotary plate 62 arranged to support the snuff box is pivotally mountedon a shaft 64 passing through a suitable bearing hole in the verticalplate 60, and the snuff box is rotated by a hand wheel 66 arrangedsimilarly to that shown in Fig. 10. The plate 64 has sharpened prongs 68projecting therefrom which are adapted to punch through the bottom ofthe pasteboard box and thus hold it securely in position on the rotatingsupport. An arcuate shelf 10 projects laterally from the vertical wall60 beneath the sn'ufi box so that the box will be readily guided intoposition.

In this modification, the cutter comprises a knife 12 mounted on aswinging arm 14. The arm is pivoted on a pin 16 mounted on a laterallyprojecting arm 18 which is integral with the upright frame member 60. Aspring secured to the pivot pin 16 and engaging the under side of thesupport for the cutting tool serves to hold the arm in its uppermostposition. This upward movement is limited by a pin 82 proje'ctinglaterally from the lever arm 14 and riding in an elongated slot 84 inthe main wall 60 of the casting. The cutter may be of various shapes,but as here shown it is a disk shaped tool having a sharpened edgeprojecting downwardly and positioned for cutting the paper seal, and thetool may be rotated into a different position when its edge becomesdulled. The cutter is held in place by the enlarged head 78 of the pinor shaft 82 which passes through a suitable hole in the arm 14 and thenthrough the elongated slot 84. A U-shaped guard 88, also mounted on theshaft 82, covers the top and side of the cutting toolso as to preventthe user from readily contacting with the sharp edge of the cutter. Thedepending arm of this guard is so positioned that it will just clear thecover of the snuff box when the arm i4 is thrust downwardly and thushold the snuff box properly in position on the prongs 68 of the rotatingplate 62. Hence, with this construction, it is merely necessary toimpale the snuff box on the prongs and then force the lever arm 64 down,whereupon the cutter 12 will cut the paper band as the box is rotated bymeans of the handle 66.

It will now be appreciated that each of these constructions comprises acutting tool which is resiliently mounted relative to a positioningsupport for a cylindrical box, and its sharp edge is protected by aguard comprising either the peripheral rim l5 of the cup shaped deviceabove described or by the special guard 88 of Figs. 12 and 13. In eachof the modifications, the box and the cutter are manually rotatedrelative to each other while the cutting tool is forced from its hiddenposition into contact with the paper seal. described as a cup may bemade in various forms, since it is merely necessary to provide a guidingsurface which positions the box properly and so locates the cutting toolthat it will cut the seal. For example, the rim l5 need not becontinuous but may be made of spaced lugs adapted to position the cutterand the box relative to each other. Hence, the slot 24 in the wall l5through which the cutter passes may comprise a large opening betweensuch locating lugs. The rear wall [6 of the cup may be omitted or bereplaced by one or more locating members arranged to hold the box insuch a position that the cutter blade l8 will operate properly. Thatportion of the rim 15 which is opposite the cutter Hi, therefore, servesas a shelf for supporting and 10- It will also be appreciated that thedevice eating the box; although it may be observed that the box is notnecessarily in contact with the shelf when it is held against the cutterblade l8. Many other modifications may be made in this construction andequivalent features substituted for those herein illustrated anddescribed. Hence, the above description is to be considered asillustrating the general principles and certain embodiments of theinvention and not as limitations on the claims herein presented.

I claim:

1. A device for cutting a cylindrical box seal comprising a box supporthaving a cylindrical wall provided with a slot therein and forming ashelf for holding a box in position, and a long arcuate spring armsecured directly to and lying close to the outside of said wall andhaving integral therewith a cutter remote from the supported end of thearm and which projects into the slot in a location where it will cut thebox seal, said spring arm being so shaped that the edge of the cutter isnormally located between and guarded by the slot walls and the cuttermay be manually moved into contact with the box, whereby the seal may becut by rotating the box relative to the cutter.

2. A device for cutting a cylindrical box seal comprising a cup havingcylindrical and end walls, a box support, a hinge connecting the cup andthe support and so arranged that a sealed box may be removably heldbetween the cup and support for cutting its seal, the cylindrical wallof the cup having a slot therein, a cutter projecting into the slot andguarded by the wall thereof, a resilient arm secured to the adjacentcylindrical wall and supporting the cutter so that it may be movedthrough the slot into cutting contact with the box seal, a rotary memberon the box support and means associated therewith for rotatably holdingthe box for cutting the seal.

JOHN HJORT.

